Boskalis unveils sculpture on Punta Pacifica, Panama

23 September 2016 Boskalis has unveiled a sculpture on the man-made island Punta Pacifica it constructed off the coast of Panama City. The sculpture called Ocean Reef I was presented by Boskalis CEO Peter Berdowski to José Isabel Blandón (alcalde del Distrito de Panamá) in the presence of Alfredo Aleman (CEO Ocean Reef Marina). Boskalis constructed the first Punta Pacifica island in the period 2011-2013. Construction of the second island commenced in April this year when the Dutch Prime Minister placed the first stones. At the ceremony held earlier this week, the land of the second island was blessed by a rabbi, priest and vicar. The sculpture contains elements that refer to the marine life in the immediate vicinity of the islands. The sculpture stands 13.75 meters tall and weighs 35 tons and will be accompanied by a smaller sculpture on the second island early next year. The ceremony was attended by various representatives from Boskalis and the client, as well as by Sr. José Isabel Blandón (alcalde del Distrito de Panamá), Sr. Ivan Zarak (Economía y Finanzas), Sr. Manuel Grimaldo (Comercio e Industrias) , Sr. Jorge Barakat (Autoridad Marítima de Panamá) and Mr Dirk Janssen (Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Panama). About the artist Ruud Kuijer became well-known in the mid-80s with his sculptures that feature distinct abstract shapes. The style of Ruud's work can be characterized as non-contemporary. He uses shapes and objects and connects them in a playful manner, challenging the laws of gravity and creating seemingly unstable compositions. Ruud has increasingly used concrete as a building material which, fittingly, is a combination of the two components that lie at the heart of Boskalis' work: water and sand.